"Quit messing around Emerson!" I knew I shouldn't have gotten in the car with this idiot.
"Oh calm down. It's not like we can die." He gave me a stupid grin, letting me know he wasn't done acting stupid. He shifted gears drifting the car around the curve of the cliff. "Doesn't mean we won't get hurt when you crash!" I held on to the handle over my head. Emerson was a giant of a man. He was 6'5 with a physique of a bodybuilder. He was only 20, but his muscle busted through almost every shirt he owned. He was always seeking a new thrill, anything to get his adrenaline running. The street lights zoomed past us, illuminating the inside of the car every few seconds, showing me the excitement swirling in his eyes.Emerson blasted his rock music as he continued to speed down the road. This year he decided to dye his hair a cool silver with a black undertone. He finally finished his tattoo sleeve, on his right arm, with a drop of blood outlined in black. He said it's for the blood we don't shed. "I swear if I get a limb cut off again because of you…" I stared daggers at his chiseled face, not needing to finish that threat. "Oh come on, Zerena. Loosen up and have some fun." He shifted gears again, now approaching 120 mph. "I know how to have fun. This… this isn't fun." I grabbed the handle tighter. I hate getting hurt. "Too late, they caught up." Percy leaned forward from the back seat. His long black hair tickled my hand on the middle console. His sharp features illuminated for a moment by the street lights. His black eyes showed me the vision playing in his head. "Damnit." Emerson muttered. A couple minutes later, a black McLaren came into view. "For f*cks sake Emerson! You just had to go all guns blazing. We had a plan!" I scolded him. "Too late to scold him now." Tally chimed from the back. "I'll get us out of this, just lower the window and cover your ears." She seemed to be having fun. Her dark blue hair seemed almost black in the night. Her eyes went all black, past her iresis, as she called on her banshee. She rolled down her window, ready to let out her scream. I poked my fingers in my ears, knowing it wouldn't do much good. It'll be better than nothing at least. She stuck her head out of the window and inhaled a large breath before opening her mouth and releasing her banshee screech. Our windshield cracked and my ears felt like they were going to bleed before she finally stopped. The McLeran's tires popped and windows busted. They spun out of control crashing off the side of the cliff. "I think we're good now. You can slow down, speed racer." I glared at Emerson who was now going 130. "You're such a downer." Emerson gave me a side eye. He grinned at me though, as he took his foot off the gas finally. He shifted slowly back down to the speed limit. My heart did the same, slowing down to its normal pace. I could kill this guy sometimes. "Zerena." Kellan's long fingers grabbed my shoulders and I knew exactly what his little siren self was trying to do. He spun his finger in my dark purple locks, and I leaned forward. "Nope. Kellan, I will literally behead you if I ever wake up in your bed again." The memories flashed in my head and I shuddered. He's lucky I didn't kill him that night. He's lucky I needed the tension release. "You know you had fun." His low silky voice came from beside my ear. I placed my hand on his face and pushed it back. "One night is enough to let me know I don't want to do it again." Tally giggled, from the back seat, at my comment. "Oh don't be that way, Rena." Kellan sat back up. "Zerena." I corrected him. "And quit trying before I punch you.""No fun." Kellan muttered. "See, you are no fun." Emerson chimed in, trying to make his point. "I'll kill you both." I deadpanned, and they all laughed. I rolled my eyes, leaning my head against the window. I hate them all. I'm only stuck with them because they are the only successes from the Scientist experiments. Little junkie mommy and daddy sold their daughter to a scientist that made the best drugs. They get a lifetime supply and he got me in exchange. A supernatural baby, a shadow weaver, to experiment on. He enhanced us with a healing ability so strong that we stay alive even when our heads are chopped off. It's not a fun experience to try to reattach your own head. We work for him, running his errands. Hired guns is what you could call us. Only we aren't really hired, we're forced. "Who's hungry?" Emerson shouted. "We really should get this back to the lab. You know that McLeran isn't going to be the only car after us." I advised, but it fell on deaf ears as everyone chimed they were hungry. "We'll stop by the gas station and get some snacks while there. We need gas anyway." Emerson looked at me, waiting for my approval. I sighed, caving in. "You better make it quick. I get a feeling they aren't done chasing us for this." I held up the rare mermaid's pearl we had just stolen. Can't imagine what the Scientist needs this for. Some new experiment I'm sure. "Got it." Emerson smiled drifting the car beside a gas pump, attracting unnecessary attention. "You feel good?" I asked, not amused. "Extremely." He grinned childishly at me as he got down. Everyone, but me, went inside. I have made it a rule to never go out in public. Not only does it help me with never getting caught, it keeps me from running into my destined one. Never find my destined one. It's the only way to survive this life I live. I began pumping the gas, watching them all go inside and start browsing the aisles of the convenience store. A sudden wave of dread came over me. That's never a good thing. I looked around and saw the car 3 miles away. My vision was the best out of us all. I could use the shadows to see great distances. Being a shadow weaver has its conveniences. 'Emerson!' I linked him. We could all telepath to one another. The Scientist did that to us too. Emerson didn't respond. This little asshole blocked me out. They'll be here soon. We need to go. I swear, Emerson, if you make me break my rule… you'll be the first one I killThis book is the 3rd book in a series, but can be read alone. If you are interested in reading the books that precede them you can find them on my author page. Book one is University of Love and book 2 is The Ember In The Dark. Hope you're enjoying the book
I traveled to the spot in the yard, not believing my eyes from that distance. I approached the figure in the moonlight cautiously. He turned when he heard me step on a twig. That long black hair and dark eyes met mine. He smiled widely at me, swooning my heart the way he use to. “Percy?” I cried. “Hey, Zae.” “You as.shole.” I went to punch him but my hand went right through him. He laughed at me. “I figured you’d try to hit me. Sorry I don’t have a body anymore to hit.” He shook his head at me. “I’m sorry, Zae.” “You should be. You have no idea how much this has hurt. Damit Perc, you should have told me. I would have stopped it!” I yelled at him, tears flowing out of me like a waterfall. “You couldn’t have. Trust me, I didn’t want to leave our Ares, but it was the only way.” He sighed. His transparent hand reached for my face. I could feel him the same way I feel the air across my cheek. “Our Ares could really use a visit from you.” I told him. “I only have one more of
8 years later“Happy birthday Ares!” We all yelled, trying to surprise him, but who were we kidding he already knew.“I knew you wouldn’t forget.” He smiled at us all. “Auggie said everyone had forgotten about my birthday and that’s why no one had said it to me yet.”“Augustus Daimen Barlowe! Did you really tell your brother that?” Kiran scolded him.“I thought if he believed it he would actually be surprised.” Augustus explained.“I’ll talk to him, keep the party going.” Kiran told me, kissing my temple, before pointing to the door to let Augusutus know to walk out.I hugged Ares, holding him tightly for a long moment before he complained.“Mom.”“Sorry
Topher had already finished here. He was wrapping the elders up. We don’t plan on killing them or imprisoning them. They just won’t be in power anymore. I know they won’t like it, but with only a few elders they won’t be able to go against a whole army. We’ll be changing a lot around here, starting with the parties and classist shi.t. Obviously the higher class will hate it, but since they are few, I’m not worried about it. “Everything go well in the North?” Topher asked me, wrapping his arm around my waist and kissing my temple. “Easy as pie.” I assured him. “Yeah, especially after she went all devil on us.” Isaiah smirked. “You did?” Topher asked, obviously not liking the fact. He didn’t like me using that side of myself much. “Yes, just for a little while. I’m fine, don’t worry.” I assured him. He looked at me for a while, assessing me, before nodding his head. He kissed my forehead now, letting his lips linger there. He let his arm wrap around me further, until his hand
2 months later.“It’s gotta be simultaneous.” I told them all, through a mass shadow message. I stared down the elder’s building with group 1 at my side. I decided to take down the north elders, while Topher led the west rebellion group. We had a good amount of people with us in each colony.Our civil war begins. Only it won’t be a war, it’ll be one battle, and we will come out victorious.‘We’re ready in the south.’ Felix, the leader of the south, responded with his own shadow message.‘Say the word and we’ll attack.’ Helena from the East sounded ready to b
It’s been a month now since the battle with Alester. Percy’s funeral hit me hard, breaking me further. I almost couldn’t bring myself to go. Kiran and Topher dragged my as.s there, not giving me a choice in the matter. I saw Allie, her beautiful innocent eyes were puffy from all the crying. She admitted to me that she knew what was going to happen. She told me Percy had asked her not to tell anyone, and that he had set things up for Ares. Apparently Electra had been helping him see into the future. She admitted that she would be joining him soon too. It was almost poetic…almost. It’s so damn heart breaking. I am not sure there is a heart left in me. It feels so hollow in my chest, like it’s run away, unable to take the pain anymore. The only times I felt a remnant of it, were when I was with August or Ares, or when I’d look at Jesse’s ultrasound. She’s not shadow kissed like Augustus. She’s like Ares, in my normal womb. Topher and Kiran did their best at trying to cheer me up, or a
Zerena’s P.O.V.No! God No!Percy’s lifeless body laid at Alester’s feet, his eyes open, staring at Ares. I kept waiting to see him heal. Kept waiting to see him move, to get back up and pummel Alester before him. I watched him for a while, completely dumbfounded. This isn’t real, this isn’t happening. I haven’t lost Kiran and Percy just now. Kiran will come back with his Phoenix, and Percy will heal. They have to. They can’t leave me.A thick sadness was beginning to envelope me. I felt the cold seeping into my bones, as the darkness began to over take me, feeding on my depression. I felt it turning all the heartache in me into an unbridled rage. I looked at Alester now, who had Percy’s heart still in his hand, burning it to Ash befo
Percy's P.O.V. Zae had made her announcement to everyone. I thought it was sweet of her to go along with Topher's plan to have an announcement party. This is how it should have gone. A baby with only the person she chose and not because some crazy bastard gave her a sea witch's potion. I watched as everyone congratulated her. She actually accepted the hugs. God, I hope she continues to open up after I'm gone. I wrote her a letter too. I put it where I knew she'd find it after my funeral. I hope she takes the advice I wrote for her. Everyone was having fun. I watched as Zae's people all intermingled. It was like watching the many parts of Zea's life come together beautifully. Eventually, the party had started to whine down. The first to leave was group 1, followed by Zea's parents, and then Tate and Alara with her twin, Alexis, plus Maple left. Kellan had decided to stay a while longer to talk to Dex about water portalling. Rain and her mate, Nate, left as well. The only ones he
Zerena’s P.O.V.“How does this look?” Kiran asked, when he finished the icing on the cake.“Looks great!” I smiled at him, kissing his cheek. “Thank you, Kiran.”I was actually excited for today. I never thought I would be a big announcement kind of gal, but I think that I am. I really like the idea of surprising everyone today. Topher and I have been over the moon about our baby girl. I can’t wait to share the news with everyone. I am so very lucky to have Percy. I don’t think I would have noticed I was pregnant for at least another month. I am also so grateful that he has saved me time with naming all these children. Already knowing their names and their genders has been very convenient.
Percy’s P.O.V.Dearest Ares,I know you’re going through a hard time right now. It’s hard to be in love with someone who doesn’t feel the same way as you. I felt this way about your mother for the longest time. I know it is difficult, especially to watch them be happy with someone else. I promise you, it will get better. You will find your mate soon, and the pain you are feeling will be a distant memory.Stay by her side, fight through the pain, my son. She will need you when your brother inevitably breaks her heart. It will hurt, but you’ll have to help fix them in order to find your own happiness. I know you have a great heart. I can already see how morally grounded you are. You will make the right decision. I have faith in you.&nb